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WISCONSIN RAPIDS --The city of Wisconsin Rapids could get a much-needed economic shot in the arm from a proposed new ethanol plant. Mary Jo Carson, Wisconsin Rapids mayor, has been contacted by Third Coast Biofuels, a Wisconsin based company, which says the city is one of several locations that has everything that's needed for an ethanol plant.

Closer public scrutiny of the operation of the St. Croix Falls hydroelectric dam is the result of a lawsuit filed and settled on the same day. The lawsuit was filed on Aug. 7 by the River Alliance of Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources over a new memorandum of understanding between the DNR and Xcel Energy.

MADISON - Wisconsin deer hunters will be able to get extra anterless deer tags starting at noon Aug. 26, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In addition to the extra anterless tags hunters can also get state park access permits. The tags are available online at www.dnr.state.wi.us ort at automated automated license issuance system outlets.

In light of the recent announcement by Dell of the recall of 4.1 million personal computer batteries, St. Croix County is reminding residents that the county collects all types of portable rechargeable batteries at the Planning and Zoning office at the Government Center, 1101 Carmichael Road, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Batteries collected include nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium ion (Li-ion) and small sealed lead (Pb) batteries under 2 pounds.

ASHLAND - Almost a year after the murder trial of Hmong hunter Chai Vang, the state's attorney general said Wednesday there hasn't been the racist backlash that some people feared. The stunning killings of six hunters and wounding of two others in the northwoods of Sawyer County almost two years ago by a man from St. Paul generated lots of emotion. Speaking to the Badger State Sheriff's Association in Ashland, Peg Lautenschlager, state attorney general, says that emotion did not transfer into a racial backlash against Hmong people.

Unemployment rates in the counties throughout the west-central Wisconsin region remain pretty much steady in July, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. St. Croix County saw an increase from 3.9 percent in June to 4.3 percent in July while Pierce County's went up just .2 percent to 3.7 percent. Pepin County also say a drop from 4.4 percent in June to 4.3 percent in July while Polk County had .5 increase to 5.2 percent. Dunn County saw a .1 percent drop to 4.1 percent while Eau Claire County's rate dropped .2 percent to 4.3 percent.

Yet another semi-truck carrying an oversized load will be heading through the region tonight escorted by two Wisconsin State Patrol vehicles. The semi will be hauling a dryer for an ethanol plant is scheduled to leave from Waukesha Wednesday morning and head up I-94 to Black River Falls. It is expected to arrive in Black River Falls about 10 p.m. Wednesday night. After a short stay there the rig is expected to continue up I-94 to Elk Mound arriving there between midnight and 1 a.m. on Thursday.

BELOIT -- Colleges and universities this fall will welcome millions of freshman students who've only known two U.S. presidents, and for whom the Soviet Union has never existed. Those are just a couple of the items on this year's "Mindset List." Beloit College puts it out in the fall as an example of the cultural world of most 18-year old freshmen. Tom McBride is the list's co-creator, and a Beloit humanities professor.

A new survey shows Wisconsin's manufacturers are upgrading equipment and their employees' skills. The increasing efficiency is pumping money into the state's economy and creating new jobs. Wisconsin's economy is 233 million dollars richer thanks to improvements made in the manufacturing sector last year. That's the finding of a new survey by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The partnership, also known as WMEP, is partially funded by state and federal tax dollars.